Tubing anchor



J. S. PAGE TUBING ANCHOR Dec. 28, 1954 Filed Oct. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J Ofi x9. payee BY fir Aft-or ey Dec. 28, 1954 J, 5 PAGE 2,698,058

TUBING ANCHOR Filed Oct. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j INVEN TOR.

Jb/rn \5. Faye United States Patent TUBING ANCHOR sfPage, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Page Oil This-invention has to dowith a tubing anchor and it is a-general object of theinvention to provide a simple, practical, improved structure for anchoring a tubing or the like in a casing or other such element.

The structure provided by this invention is applicable to-w'elltubing or the like and is operable in a casing. The structure involves an elongate tubular body formed of a central core-and an enlargement or sleeve on the core rigid therewith and having longitudinally radially projecting ribs with guideways therein. The ribs are spaced" circumferentially of the bodyand each carries a shoe engageable with'the casing. In accordance with theinvention one shoe isan abutment having a fixed or rigidoperating position while the other shoe or shoes are shiftable'radially in the guideways. construction each shoe is formed of individually movable se'ctions an'd the shoes are retained in the guideways by collars on the body at the ends of the sleeve which co'llars are held by retaining nuts.

Operating means is provided for operating the shoes which work or shift relative to the body, it being preferred-to provide'a plunger behind each shoe section arid-theplungers are operated by pressure from within the body.

A general object of this invention is to provide a tubing anchor to secure a tubing or the like in a casing so that the tubing is rigidly held at the anchor and is notfree to shift or work in a manner to cause wear or failure of parts.

Another'object of this invention is to provide a tubing anchor 'of the general character referred to in which a shoe is providedon the anchor body as an abutment in a fixed or predetermined position to engage the casing, While other shoes circumferentially spaced from the abutmerit work radially of the body to move out into pressure engagement with the casing.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide an anchor ofthe general character referred to having an improved shoe construction by which the anchor effectively conforms to the interior of a casing or the like. The present invention provides sectional shoes, and operating means for the shoes moves the sections individually.

A'further' object of this invention is to provide a simple;practical, improved anchor construction mounting-casing engaging shoes in guideways on a body and retaining the shoes in the guideways, so that the structure is inexpensive of manufacture, is effective and dependable.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description'of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to-the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an anchor embodying the present invention with parts broken away to appear in sectionand to show details of construction. Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but taken through anabut'ment shoe rather than a working shoe. Fig. 3 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a side elevation of the anchor showing it coupled with tubing and engaged in a casing at a collar thereof. Fig. 5 is a view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 4 showing the working shoes'of'the anchor retracted, and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig- 5, showing the working shoes out or engaged as they appear in Fig. 4.

The structure embodying thepresent invention is intended for; use-in a-well, or the like, and in the case illus- In the preferred trated it is shown appliedto a string of tubingT to which it is coupled by suitable couplingsleeves .10. -The tubing and anchor are shown arranged in a typical well casing C involving-tubular sections 11 joined by:-typical-couplers 12. .In theparticular case illustrated the. coupler is of a type that connects the casing sections 11 so that their ends are spaced somewhat apart; The tubing anchor provided by the presentinvention is shown engaged with the casing ata coupling so that. certainsections of the anchor shoes engage a casing section 11 while other anchor shoes engagexin the coupler 12. This particular illustration isgiven to show a situation where the. anchor engages-parts of distinctly different size. It is to .be understood, of course, that the anchor may be engaged in a casing section 11 where the section is of uniform size and shape.

The structure provided by the presentinvention involves, generally, an elongate tubular body A, a plurality of shoes, preferably including anaabutmentshoe B and a plurality of working shoes D, mounting means F mounting the abutment shoe in a fixed working position on the body, mounting means G mounting the working shoes D on the body for movement radially relative thereto, and operating means H= acting to move the working shoes radially into engagement with the casing- C.

The body A, in its preferred form, involves a simple elongate tubular core 15 with threads 16 at its ends to receive couplings 10, or thelike. An enlargement in the form of a sleeve 17 is engaged on the core 15 intermediate its end portions andispreferably tight on the core. In the drawings the sleeve is shown secured on the core by welding material 18 so that the core and sleeve form a rigid unitwhich is,-in effect, integral.

The abutment shoe- B is carried on the exterior of the body A, that is, on the exterior of the sleeve 17 of the body, and in accordance-With the invention it has a predetermined or fixed working position relative to the body so that it forms an abutment member engageable with-the casing toprovide .a rigid or unyielding support establishing the body of the anchor in the casing against movement or. shifting relative thereto. In the preferred form of the invention the outer face 29 of the abutment shoe B is convex and is preferably finished or provided with teeth to have eifective gripping engagement withthe wall of casing-C. The abutment shoe may, in practice, be made as an integral part or protection on the body A. However, itis preferred that it be joined to or mounted on the body by the mounting means F as shown in the drawings. The particular mounting means F illustrated in the drawings involves a longitudinally disposed radially projecting rib 21 on the exterior of sleeve 17, which rib is provided with a longitudinal guide way 22 with-opposed walls. The abutment shoe is carried in the guideways and has a widened or enlarged base portion 23 engaged between the opposing walls of the guideway. inwardly turned or projecting flanges 24 are provided at the outer part of the guideways to overhang or overlie the enlarged base portion 23 so'that the shoe cannot become radially displaced fromthe guideway.

In accordance with the present invention it is preferred that the abutment shoe B have a fixed. or predetermined working position relative to the body, that is, that it have a working position from which it will not move or shift when the anchor is in use. However, there is no objection to having the anchor free to move radially outward from such working position, if desired. In the particular case illustrated the structure is such that the abutment shoe may move radially outward but it cannot move inward of the body from the predetermined working position. The invention provides means for adjusting or varying the working'position of the abutment shoe so that the shoe can be set to operate at 'a predetermined distance from the center of the anchor. In the form of the invention illustrated an insert or liner 30 is provided behind the shoe or between the back 31 of the shoe and the bottom 32 of the guideway. The liner is shown secured in position by screw fasteners 35. It will be apparent from Fig. 3 of the drawings how the liner or insert 30 positively determines the working position of the abutment shoe B and it will be apparent that by varying liners, that is, by using Pate'nteciDec. 2s, 1954v liners of difierent thicknesses the effective position of the shoe may be varied.

In the preferred form of the invention I provide two working shoes D circumferentially spaced apart and from the abutment shoe B. The several shoes B and D are preferably equally spaced around the body as shown in the drawings.

Each working shoe D is provided with a mounting means G by which it is mounted on the body A and in the preferred form of the invention each mounting means G involves a laterally disposed radially projecting rib 40 on the exterior of the collar 17 which rib has a longitudinal guideway 41 with opposed guide faces. The shoe carried by the guideway has an enlarged base portion 42 that slides in the guideway 41 and inwardly projecting flanges 43 are provided at the outer part of the guideway to overlie the base portion 42 to positively prevent radial displacement of the shoe from the guide- Way. The shoe carried in the guideway has a convex outer face 45 preferably finished or provided with gripping teeth or the like, and the structure is such that when the shoe is retracted, as shown in Fig. 3, its outer face is substantially concentric with the outer face 46 of the rib 40 and when the shoe is extended, as shown in Fig. 6 its outer face is beyond the rib and fits in or conforms to the contour of the interior of the casing C. In accordance with the present invention retaining means preferably in the form of collars 50 held by nuts 51 are provided for preventing displacement of the shoes from the guideways lengthwise of the structure. In the case illustrated the collars 50 are engaged on the end portions of core to abut the ends 52 of the sleeve 17 and each collar has radially projecting lugs 55 which close the guideways. Suitable keys 56 orient or position the collars 50 with the lugs 55 in proper register with the guideways. The lugs are circumferentially spaced so that adequate clearance is provided between them registering with the spaces between the ribs 21 and 40 so that there is no interference with circulation of fluid within the casing and past the anchor.

The nuts 51 that secure the collars 50 in place are preferably carried on threads 57 provided on the end portions of the core. Through the construction just described the shoes are effectively retained in the guideways and yet the retaining elements are easily removable to facilitate repair or replacement of parts that may need service or attention.

In the preferred form of the invention each shoe of the structure is sectional, that is, it is divided into a plurality of relatively movable parts or sections. In the drawings each shoe is shown guided intermediate its ends so that it is in two sections and the sections are free to move independently of each other.

The operating means 1-! is actuated by fluid pressure from within the body A and acts to operate the working shoes radially of the body and into pressure engagement with the interior of the casing C while the abutment shoe B bears in the casing and forms a fixed point positioning the body in a predetermined manner in the easing. Where the working shoes are sectional, as above described, it is preferred that there be a unit of the operating means H for actuating each shoe section. In the drawings a plunger 70 is shown for operating each shoe section and is carried in a radial cylinder opening 71 provided in the body A, the opening extending from the interior or passage 72 of the body to the bottom of the guideway carrying the shoe section. A suitable packing ring or seal 73 is provided to seal the plunger in the cylinder opening. A retaining lip 74 limits inward movement of the plunger in the cylinder opening while the outer end 75 of the plunger seats against or bears on the inner or back face 76 of the shoe section. With this construction which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, it will be apparent that fluid pressure in the body A actuates the plungers outwardly so that the sections of the working shoes are individually operated outward and into suitable pressure engagement with the casing.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the structure provided by the present invention can be coupled with a tubing or the like and lowered into the desired position in the casing, whereupon pressure applied to the tubing will actuate the plungers 70 outward, causing the sections of the working shoes D to move out into pressure engagement with the wall of the casing. The abutment shoe B having a fixed working position provides a rigid abutment between the body A and the casing so that no shifting or working occurs between the body and the casing after the working shoes have been operated or set. It is highly important, in practice, that the body of the anchor be thus set rigidly in the casing C as otherwise creeping or working of the parts may occur, resulting in failure or wear.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A tubing anchor engageable in a casing including, an elongate tubular body having a fluid passage extending longitudinally therethrough, an abutment shoe separate from the body at one side thereof and adapted to engage the casing, means adapted to support said abutment shoe rigidly with respect to the body when said abutment shoe is in operative engagement with the casing, a casing-engaging shoe spaced from said abutment shoe circumferentially of the body, and means responsive to fluid pressure within said fluid passage adapted to move said casing-engaging shoe relative to said body into engagement with the casing.

2. A tubing anchor engageable in a casing including, an elongate tubular body having a fluid passage extending longitudinally therethrough, an abutment shoe mounted on one side of the body to move relative thereto and adapted to engage the casing, means insertable between said body and said abutment shoe adapted to locate the abutment shoe rigidly in a predetermined position with respect to the body when said abutment shoe is in operatrve engagement with the casing and is active to support the body, a casing-engaging shoe carried by the body and spaced from said abutment shoe circumferentially of the body, and means responsive to fluid pressure within said fluid passage for moving said casingengaging shoe relative to said body into engagement with the casing.

3. A tubing anchor engageable in a casing including, an elongate tubular body having a fluid passage extending longitudinally therethrough, longitudinal guideways on the exterior of the body intermediate its ends and spaced from each other circumferentially of the body, an abutment shoe mounted in one of the guideways for limited radial movement with respect to said body, said abutment shoe being adapted to engage the casing, a rigid member insertable between the bottom of said one guideway and said abutment shoe for locating the abutment shoe rigidly in a predetermined position with respect to the body when said abutment shoe is in operative engagement with the casing and is acting to support the body, a casing-engaging shoe mounted in the other guideway for limited radial movement with respect to the body, a radiai cylinder opening from said fluid passage to the bottom of said other guideway, and plunger means carried in said radial cylinder opening and responsive to fluid pressure within said fluid passage for acting on said casing-engaging shoe to move it radially of the body.

4. A tubing anchor engageable in a casing including, an elongate tubular body having a fluid passage extending longitudinally therethrough, an abutment shoe separate from the body at one side thereof and adapted to engage the casing, means adapted to support said abutment shoe in operative engagement with the casing, a plurality of casing-engaging shoes spaced from each other and from said abutment shoe circumferentially of the body, and means responsive to fluid pressure within said fluid passage adapted to move said casing-engaging shoes radially outward from said body into engagement with the casing.

5. A tubing anchor engageable in a casing including,

position with respect to the body when said abutment shoe 1s in operative engagement with the casing and is acting to support the body, casing-engaging shoes mounted in the other guideways for limited radial movement with respect to the body, a radial cylinder opening from said fluid passage to the bottom of each of said other guideways, and plunger means carried in said radial cylinder openings and responsive to fluid pressure within said fluid passage for acting on said casing-engaging shoes to move them radially of the body.

6. A tubing anchor engageable in a casing including, an elongate tubular body having a fluid passage extending longitudinally therethrough, longitudinal guideways on the exterior of the body intermediate its ends and spaced from each other circumferentially of the body, an abutment shoe mounted in one of the guideways for limited radial movement with respect to said body, said abutment shoe being adapted to engage the casing, a rigid member insertable between the bottom of said one guideway and said abutment shoe for locating the abutment shoe rigidly in a predetermined position with respect to the body when said abutment shoe is in operative engagement with the casing and is acting to support the casing, a plurality of casingengaging shoes mounted in ,7 the other guideway for limited radial movement with respect to the body, each of said casing-engaging shoes having relatively movable sections, a plurality of radially disposed cylinder openings from said fluid passage to the bottom of each of said other guideways, and plunger means carried in said cylinder openings and responsive to fluid pressure within said fluid passage for acting on said casing-engaging shoe sections to move them radially of the body, there being a plunger engaged with each working shoe section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,900,371 Smith Mar. 7, 1933 1,941,813 Nixon et a1 Ian. 2, 1934 1,972,408 Nixon Sept. 4, 1934 

